Is The Day of the Jackal Based on a True Story? Here’s All You Need to Know About Eddie Redmayne’s New Series  

Get ready for some heart-pounding spy action with Peacock’s new series, The Day of the Jackal. Starring Eddie Redmayne as a secretive assassin and Lashana Lynch as a tough British spy, this show is sure to keep you hooked from start to finish.

Before you start, here’s something interesting: the series is based on a famous book by Frederick Forsyth and inspired by real events. It’s about a secret killer who’s always on the move and never shows who he really is.

British intelligence is racing against time to stop him before he strikes again. While some aspects of the story come from real life, much of it is a product of creative storytelling. So, how much of this is fact, and how much is fiction? Let’s explore the real events that inspired this exciting narrative.

The Book and the Real Events Behind The Day of the Jackal

First, let’s talk about the book that started it all. Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal begins with a true assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle. Back in the early ’60s, things were pretty heated between France and Algeria, all because of the Algerian War.

De Gaulle made the call to recognize Algeria’s independence, and some people in the French military were NOT having it. Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, a lieutenant colonel, teamed up with the OAS, a far-right group that opposed Algerian independence.

They planned the Petit-Clamart attack, a failed assassination attempt that ended in chaos. Bastien-Thiry recruited shooters and positioned them in a suburb of Paris, where they opened fire on de Gaulle’s car. 

However, their aim was terrible, and no one was killed, though a bystander was injured. Bastien-Thiry was eventually captured and executed after justifying his actions by claiming de Gaulle was a ‘tyrant.’ While this part of the story is true, the narrative quickly shifts into fictional territory afterward.

The Fictional Assassin is Born from Frederick Forsyth’s Imagination

Now, let’s discuss the character of the Jackal. After that chaotic assassination attempt, the OAS, feeling pretty bummed about their flop, sought out a professional assassin. That’s where the Jackal comes in—mysterious, slick, and super skilled.

However, it’s important to note that the Jackal is not based on a real individual. The Jackal, as depicted in Forsyth’s book, is a product of Forsyth’s pure imagination!

While the initial assassination attempt was real, the rest of the story dives deep into the realm of fiction. So, if you were expecting a straightforward biopic, think again!

Be sure to mark your calendars for November 14, when the first five episodes of Eddie Redmayne‘s The Day of the Jackal will be released on Peacock.